Stereotypically Undefined

Would you rather be a slut or a nerd? A sorority girl or an athlete? A do-gooder or a bad girl? Stereotypes are both created and destroyed, intentional or accidental, hard to rid or easy to get. We often think in terms of stereotypes sometimes without noticing. Can we control the “brands” we fall under? Or are they engrained so deep in our societies veins that even if you try your hardest not to be that dumb blonde, the color of your hair trumps your bachelor’s degree in engineering? In history we saw the categorizing effects of stereotypes with race. How you acted, things you were a part of determined your stereotype. African Americans males became known for being “well-endowed” which started an ongoing stereotype still modern today. Hispanics are teased about immigration, and teased to return to their countries even if in reality they know nothing but a home in America. While stereotypes can illicit a laugh or two they can also penetrate deep in the souls of those we joke about. A girl who studies to achieve good grades or make Dean’s list is a nerd or a smarty pants. Is this always bad? We must ask ourselves if the stereotypes we feed into are always negative. Do good stereotypes even have a chance?
 
         For women in college, the amount of make-up you wear, the dress you put on, and the alcohol in your hand could group you into a stereotype. A common one is the sorority girl stigma. In media the portrayal of Greek life is a poor one. While larger groups of women and men getting together for a common cause does make a party, there is more than meets the eye. Chapters mingle with other chapters outside intoxicating social events and perform annual community service acts each year. Greeks are just one of many stereotypes that are dissected in the minds of our society. Though we as individuals must take some responsibility to the creation and dissemination of stereotypes; We can be stereotypical. We sometimes choose to be.  Kendal Smith, a physiology senior, says the worst stereotype a girl can be in a tramp or a liar. “It’s a matter of value that’s important to me and I feel like it’s important to respect yourself.” During the most fun years of our life, college can harbor a setting that can easily descend stereotypes upon us. It is as if we pass them out like fliers. Some would disagree, but these can be the most judgmental years of our lives as we struggle to find who we are and where we want to sit in society’s success driven world. “The worst stereotype is a druggie,” says Tyler Johnson, an economic senior. “No one wants that baggage.” As we voice our personal accounts of what the worst titles can possibly be, we must remember we fuel the fire that ignites the spreading of stereotypes. Don’t be defined.